finishing the recall

[huntnfmly]

No particular reason for topic just curious how many of you finish at the heel posistion and how many consider it finished when you are able to touch your dog?my Springer is at the heel posistion

[Happy Gilmore]

not quite sure what you're asking? I'd say if you say heal, your dog should heal and remain at heal until told otherwise....(obviously, that is sometimes easier said than done and might be something you work on for a long time)

heal is almost as basic as "sit". It should be put in the dog at an early age.

[Blackjaw]

I like to have my dogs sit in front of me on the recall, that way they are looking at me for direction.

[Happy Gilmore]

I like to have my dogs sit in front of me on the recall, that way they are looking at me for direction.

Bad part about that position is that you have potential for another bird to flush or, another duck to come in and the dog won't be able to see/mark it if you're partner or you shoots it.

Recall to heal and teach to be ready for what is in the field while holding the birds.....another good reason to force fetch all in itself. Instead of picking up the bird, the dog can be holding the bird, watching for another quail to flush, another duck to set and for you to shoot out of the way, safely at your side not tripping you up while you move with a gun in your hand.

[huntnfmly]

Last night I had just got done working with my dog and I always finish him at heal and remember reading some people finish as blackjaw does wich makes sense also.So I was just interested I enjoy reading how other people train

[Blackjaw]

IMO neither way is necessarily better that the other. For the type of hunting I do, I want the dog infront of me so I can cast him off after the retrieve. If, on the off chance, a bird is shot that he doesn't see I'll bring him to heel and line him up for a blind retrieve. For the ytpe of hunting HG does he wants his dog at heel so he has a better view of what is infront of him, so he brings his dog to heel.

[Happy Gilmore]

IMO neither way is necessarily better that the other. For the type of hunting I do, I want the dog infront of me so I can cast him off after the retrieve. If, on the off chance, a bird is shot that he doesn't see I'll bring him to heel and line him up for a blind retrieve. For the ytpe of hunting HG does he wants his dog at heel so he has a better view of what is infront of him, so he brings his dog to heel.

I like pointing dogs to do the same for the same reasons... although, you are very correct that casting a pointer/flusher is nothing like sending a retriever on a blind....very opposite spectrum of work... I've trained with a guy who has a high level versatile gun dog GSP(can't remember the exact name) and his "blind retrieves" are very different than retrievers..

[huntnfmly]

HG is the difference between the blind retrieves that a pointer/flushing breed are sent to general area and retrievers are sent on direct line and expected to keep that line to bird during trials

[Happy Gilmore]

HG is the difference between the blind retrieves that a pointer/flushing breed are sent to general area and retrievers are sent on direct line and expected to keep that line to bird during trials

In a nutshell correct. FT/HT blind retrieves...hunting is scored down and sometimes ground for failure of the test. Dogs must hold a given line and take exact direction(casts) until stopped and re-directed.

If you give a "left back" handle and the dog spins to the right a little off line, you are marked down. If the dog puts his nose down and hunts, you are marked down. The handler is to know where the bird is down and put the dog exactly on that location without allowing the dog to hunt. It is a trainability score.

[Blackjaw]

When I flushing dog is sent for a blind in a trial, the exact location of the fall isn't known most of the time, so sending the dog a little down wind of where you think the bird is and having him find it is ok and you normally get a couple of chances before they throw your dog out for failing a retrieve (I should also note that flushing dogs are not asked to complete blind retieves at anything close to the distance that retrievers handle).

Interesting side note:  The judge is normally watching the dog for steadiness, so most of the time the gunner will have the line better based on where they saw the fall, or where thier lead foot is pointed if they have turned away from the fall (provided they haven't moved). Most judges will confer with the gun on the approx. area of the fall before sending. 

[JJD]

I suppose it depends on what breed/dog game you are playing.
I like my retrievers at heel when they deliver the bird. Lines them up for the next retrieve whether its a blind or a mark.  Helps steady the dog for the next retrieve or shot.  Closer the dog is to you, the more control it feels it is under.  However, in hunting situations, it's not always possible to bring your dog heel.  Much of the time environment, blind, boat, etc, does not allow space for it.